MURRAY OUT OF WATER, by Taylor Tracy, Quill Tree Books, May 21, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl struggles to find the magic lost when a hurricane forces her away from her home in Murray Out of Water, by Taylor Tracy.
Bighearted and observant twelve-year-old Murray O’Shea loves the ocean. Every chance she gets, she’s in it. It could be because the ocean never makes her apologize for being exactly who she is—something her family refuses to do—but it could also be because of the secret magic that Murray shares with the ocean. Though she can’t explain its presence, the electric buzz she feels from her fingertips down to her toes allows her to become one with the ocean and all its creatures, and it makes Murray feel seen in a way she never feels on land.
But then a hurricane hits Murray’s Jersey Shore home, sending the O’Sheas far inland to live with relatives. Being this far from the ocean, Murray seems to lose her magic. And stuck in a house with her family, she can no longer avoid the truths she’s discovering about herself—like how she feels in the clothes her mom makes her wear, or why she doesn’t have boys on the brain like other girls her age.
But it’s not all hurricanes and heartache. Thankfully, Murray befriends a boy named Dylan, who has a magic of his own. When Murray agrees to partner with him for a youth roller-rama competition in exchange for help getting her magic back, the two forge an unstoppable bond—one that shows Murray how it’s not always the family you were given that makes you feel whole…sometimes it’s the family you build along the way. —Synopsis provided by Quill Tree Books
Written in verse, Murray Out of Water is an emotional read that follows Murray as she starts to discover the person she wants to be.
Murray has spent her life trying to be the daughter her religious mother wants her to be. She tries to not rock the boat after seeing her parents’ response to her older brother coming out as gay. But Murray hates dresses and being girlie. And when she meets Dylan, whose personality sparkles as much as his brightly colored clothes, she can’t help but be intrigued.
Murray and Dylan’s friendship is the kind of friendship any parent would want for their kid — complete acceptance and support, loyalty from beginning to end.
Author Taylor Tracy surrounds Murray with characters who care. They want Murray to be comfortable in her own skin, and there’s a great sense of community. And Tracy’s use of magical realism throughout proves to be a strong framework for Murray’s journey.
Though themes throughout Murray Out of Water will ring true with many readers, this book will especially resonate with kids who are queer or may think they might be. It’s a positive and hopeful read.
Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
